Platinum Group Elements in the Environment: Emissions and Exposure - Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - page 125

resistance, and high plasticity) have fomented rapid growth of new and existing
applications in various economic and industrial sectors. These metals are not only
used in the chemical, petrochemical, electrical, and electronics industries but also

Table 3 Examples of PGE concentrations measured in environmental samples from various
worldwide locations

Examples of concen-
tration levels in envi-
ronmental samples Sample type Sampling site Analytes Unit Literature cited

1 2 3 4 5 6

Soil Austria Ru 0.01-5.77 ng g −1 Fritsche and

Meisel 2004 Rh 0.03-13.2

Pd 0.29-24.5

Os 0.03-2.36

Ir 0.03-1.1

Pt < LOD: 134

Brazil Pt 0.31-17.4 ng g −1 Morcelli et al.

2005 Pd 1.1-58

Rh 0.07-8.2

Germany Pt < 0.1-4 ng g −1 Schäfer and

Puchelt 1998 Pd < 0.4-1.2

Rh < 0.1-0.6

Mexico Pt 1.1-332.7 ng g −1 Morton et al. 2001

Pd 1.1-101

Rh 0.2-39.1

Australia Pt 30.96-153 ng g −1 Whiteley and

Murray 2003

Pd 13.79-108.45

Rh 3.47-26.55

Great Britain Pt < 0.30-7.99 ng g −1 Farago et al. 1996

Soil Italy Pt 1.8-4.7 (less polluted

areas)

ng g −1 Cinti et al. 2002

0.8-19.4 (urban
areas)

Italy Pt 1.6-52 (urban areas) ng g −1 Cicchella et al.

2003

Pd 8-110 (urban areas)

Road tunnel
dust

Poland Pt 4.17-23.3 ng g −1 Leœniewska et al.

2004 22.3 ± 4.4

Pd 16.4 ± 1.9

3.1-23.9

Rh 6.76 ± 1.28

Road dust Poland Pt 35.9-110.9 ng g −1 Leœniewska et al.

2004 34.2-110.6

Pd 42.2 ± 1.0

32.8 ± 3.8

Rh 10.8-19.7

6.0-19.5

Australia Pt 53.84-419 ng g −1 Whiteley and

Murray 2003 Pd 58.15-440.46

Rh 8.78-91.40

(continued)